New Delhi, Oct 12: After Jantar Mantar was de-notified as the designated protest site, Opposition leaders expressed their anguish on Monday, saying that they will not accept the decision as it was arbitrary and that in a democracy, people decide where they can protest.

They added that the government can change the protest site but can’t reduce people’s anger.

Speaking to reporters, Congress MP Manish Tewari said, “We want to submit a representation to the Honorable Supreme Court. Therefore, the entire Opposition is collectively going to Barakhamba Road. Let’s see where it goes from here.”

Tewari added, “The norm is that the protests and demonstrations take place in Boat Club. People come there. You may change the designated venues for demonstrations, but you cannot reduce people’s anger.”

All India Mahila Congress President Alka Lamba said, “How can they end it, and who has decided this? In a democracy, who decides when something will begin or end, where people can go and where they cannot? Democracy will decide this.”

“The entire land of India is free for people to raise their voices against injustice and oppression. Our Constitution has given us this freedom. The entire country remains firm on the demand for Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation, and it will happen,” she added.

Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit said, “I would urge the government not to hold it here either. They should find a place outside the country, because according to them, we are not even citizens of this country. So, they should find a place in Bangladesh, China, or somewhere else and go there to hold it. Why go to such lengths here?”

Congress leader and Haryana LoP Bhupinder Singh Hooda said that the denotification of Jantar Mantar as the designated protest site showed that the government is scared.

“They want to suppress the voice of the people,” he added.

Congress MP Imran Masood said, “Now, we will protest on the top of the Himalayas”

Congress MP Charanjit Singh Channi said, “They will gradually say you cannot come to Delhi, as if Delhi is their father’s property”

Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said, “Whatever the party says will happen”

According to a previous circular by the Delhi Police, Jantar Mantar has been de-notified as the “designated” protesting site. The decision was taken based on the recommendations of a Home Ministry committee.

“Three new locations in Delhi — Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and East Delhi’s CBD Ground — have been designated for protests”, the official notification read.

New Delhi, Oct 12: BJP MP Anurag Thakur on Monday launched a sharp attack on Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of making “baseless” allegations against constitutional institutions and attempting to “create political instability” amid the ongoing controversy over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi, Thakur alleged that Rahul Gandhi lacked a proper understanding of facts, rules and laws and was instead focused on creating disorder and questioning constitutional authorities.

“Rahul Gandhi may be the Leader of the Opposition, but he is a leader who knows neither the facts nor the arguments, rules, regulations or laws. He only knows how to spread anarchy, create instability, undermine constitutional offices and institutions, and tarnish India’s image across the world,” Thakur said.

The BJP MP also questioned Rahul Gandhi’s repeated allegations of “vote theft”, claiming that the Congress leader was effectively challenging the people’s mandate without presenting sufficient evidence to support his claims.

“Rahul Gandhi keeps talking about ‘vote theft’, but in reality, he is challenging the public’s mandate. He makes baseless claims. He is a leader dealing in empty rhetoric. His entire political agenda is built on hollow statements, baseless accusations, meaningless actions, protests, facts… Ground reality is that there is nothing substantial in his statements. He repeatedly makes allegations and then goes to court and apologises. That is his track record,” Thakur said.

He further accused the Congress leader of making the Election Commission of India (ECI), electronic voting machines (EVMs) and the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) a “scapegoat to target” whenever the party suffers electoral defeats, instead of accepting the outcome of elections.

“Rahul ji, the country doesn’t need noise, allegations or political statements, but truth, evidence, and clear answers,” he added.

Referring to the INDIA bloc’s efforts to raise its concerns over the SIR exercise before the judiciary, Thakur questioned the opposition’s attempt to seek a discussion with the Chief Justice of India (CJI) while the matter was sub judice.

“How can he seek a discussion with the CJI if this SIR issue is sub judice? The CJI made it clear that he should file a petition,” Thakur said.

“You know that Rahul Gandhi has faced setbacks in court several times in the past and has apologised. Now he thinks that if he goes out on the streets and repeatedly tells lies, people will start believing them to be true. Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party have a very clear strategy: if they cannot rule, they will spread anarchy,” he added.

Thakur maintained that Rahul Gandhi and the Congress had the right to raise their concerns and approach the judiciary, but accused them of behaving as though they were above established constitutional procedures and institutions.

“The people of the country have every right to present their case before the court. Rahul Gandhi, you too have every right to present your views. But Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party consider themselves an extra-constitutional body,” he said.

The BJP leader also challenged the Congress to make public the evidence it had claimed to possess in support of its allegations against the Election Commission, insisting that criticism of constitutional institutions must be backed by verifiable facts.

“There might be allegations against the ECI, but where is the evidence? Rahul Gandhi had said that he would present the evidence, but it is still not made public… Disagreement is fine, but if allegations are made against the Constitutional institutions, then there must be evidence,” he added.

“The responsibility lies not only with the government but also with the LoP,” he added.

This comes amid the Congress-led INDIA Bloc’s march towards the Supreme Court, seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over the controversy surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Opposition leaders have alleged irregularities in the revision exercise and raised concerns over the electoral rolls, while the BJP has defended the process and accused the Congress of politicising the issue.

The INDIA Bloc leaders had also sought an appointment with Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant to discuss their concerns. However, the CJI declined their request and advised them to approach the court through a petition in accordance with the established legal procedure.

Following this, a bus carrying Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and other INDIA Bloc leaders departed from the Constitution Club of India towards the Supreme Court.

New Delhi, Oct 12: Delhi Police solved a robbery case in New Usmanpur area by arresting two accused, including a proclaimed bad character (BC) of Bhajanpura police station. The mobile phone robbed from the victim has also been recovered, officials said.

According to police, the incident took place on October 8, when Man Singh, 28, a resident of South Gamri in Delhi who works as a taxi driver, was walking from 4.5 Pusta towards the parking area at 5th Pusta to collect his vehicle at around 5 a.m.

When he reached a garbage dump, three persons allegedly intercepted him. One of them grabbed him from behind and choked him, while another pressed a knife-like object against his stomach.

Meanwhile, the third accused took his mobile phone and wallet containing Rs 1,500 and his driving licence from his trouser pocket. They also snatched an earring from his ear before fleeing towards Khajuri Chowk.

Following the complaint, a case was registered under FIR No. 639/2026 dated October 8 under Sections 309(4) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and an investigation was initiated.

A police team under the supervision of Seelampur ACP cracked the case, arresting the key suspect.

The team analysed footage from more than 150 CCTV cameras and developed local intelligence, leading to the identification and arrest of the two accused on October 9.

The accused have been identified as Arif alias Khujli, 25, a resident of Gali No. 4, 5th Pusta, Gamri, Delhi, and Dilshad Sheikh, 24, a resident of Gali No. 24, 5th Pusta, Gamri, Bhajanpura, Delhi.

During verification, Arif was found to be a “bad character” of Bhajanpura police station, with six previous cases related to robbery, theft and offences under the Arms Act. Dilshad was previously involved in two robbery cases, police said.

During interrogation, both accused confessed to their involvement in the crime and disclosed information about a third associate. On October 10, during police custody remand, the victim’s robbed mobile phone was recovered at Arif’s instance.